Dhaka: A court here today convicted and sentenced a man to death in a case lodged for raping and subsequently murdering his neighbor’s 7-year-old daughter over a previous enmity in Matuail area under Jatrabari Police Station in the capital. The convict is Md Rafikul Islam, 27, son of Abul Kalam of Gopinathpur under Phulchari Police Station of Gaibandha. Judge Roksana Begum Happy of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 of Dhaka pronounced the judgment in presence of the convict and sent him back to jail with a conviction warrant. The court also fined him Taka 50,000 or to suffer six months more behind the bars.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the case documents reveal that the victim lived with her family at their rented house in Matuail area. She went to the common washroom beside their home at around 6 am on October 1, 2017, and subsequently went missing. As her family was searching for her, Rafikul called the victim’s father, stating that the child was with him. The victim’s family, along with other neighbors, went to Rafikul’s house and found it locked. They broke the lock and discovered the victim’s body inside, with her hands and legs tied with rope. The victim’s father later filed the case with Jatrabari Police Station.
The court framed charges against Rafikul on May 15, 2019, and delivered the judgment today after examining 12 out of 16 witnesses on different hearing dates.